Reuben Lifuka said his anti-graft organization would continue putting more pressure on the government by demanding that President Rupiah Banda’s administration seek to recover the funds allegedly stolen by the former president.
“We find it amazing that government has quickly stated that they are not going to appeal, when the judgment’s validity was not tested in this particular case,” he said.
Zambia’s High Court recently ruled that the country’s laws did not allow the enforcement of judgments made in other countries. This came after a British judge ruled in 2007 that former President Chiluba pay $58-million as compensation for funds stolen while he was leader of Zambia from 1991-2001.
Mr. Chiluba denies the corruption charges and has rejected the British judge’s ruling as without merit.
Supporters of the former president say the charges were politically motivated after his fall-out with successor, the late President Levy Mwanawasa, who died in 2008.
Observers say the government’s decision not to appeal the court’s ruling is an attempt to appease the supporters of the former leader ahead of next year’s general election.
Analysts say former President Chiluba is still popular adding that the decision not to appeal the ruling could boost the chances of incumbent President Banda in the general election.
TI’s Chairman Lifuka said the government’s decision was not based on sound legal reasons.
“Every indication does show that there is more of a political reason than legal because it started with the acquittal of the former president in the court of law for criminal offenses of a similar nature, as decided upon by the London High Court. We saw the dismantling, or disbanding, of the task force. And, the task force activities have been swallowed up by the anti-corruption commission. And now, this is the latest setback that we have seen,” Lifuka said.
Meanwhile, the United States has questioned the Zambian government’s commitment to rooting out corruption.
[Voice of America]
I think we are being taken for granted to the extreme by the powers that be!
most people dont know that reason chiluba receives most of this prosecution is because maureen is a scorned woman who once slept with chiluba and got discarded very badly after which chiluba pursued regina konkaniously#FACT# if you think am lying just locate mr museba used to work as security protocol for chiluba he will fill you in.the problem with lamba women is they are all prozis
rueben lifuka how much cash do you want to recover can you give us facts instead of just being an empty vuvuzela for mmembe and collapsed pact. I wonder who the masters to TIZ are in not the same bums after leadership change as if zambians are so dim not to decide on fate. lifuka kiss your arse
LIFUKA HOW COME YOUR SONG AND THAT OF SATA, HH, LAZ, CATHOLICS SOUNDS THE SAME. ARE YOU ALSO IN OPPOSITION OF ALL THAT GOVT DOES BCOS YOU WANT YOUR OWN PUPPETS TO TAKE OVER. WACHEPA SANA WE ARE WATCHING YOU. CAN ASSURE YOU YOUR BATTLES WILL AMOUNT TO NOTHING YOU JUST MAKE YOURSELF UNPOPULAR AND LOOK STUPIDEST IN THE EYES OF MAJORITY
We the people of Zambia say no to this appeal it will be just another waste of money look at how much has been spent both in Zambia and here in the UK of this case . Let NGO’s and their masters go to hell we should not be teaching our children this kind of hate. And for those Lawyers ( Nchito and friends) no more pay outs. I thank that judge for throughing out this case.
lifuka tell VOA to send warmonger george bush to iraq to be tried for war crimes, imagine the thousands of innocent lives both american and iraqi that have been killed bcos of imagined weapons of mass destruction. nchito is now foolishly rich bcos of the cash he got prosecuting this case in london and who sent him that side but one levy mwanawasa. zambian airways nchito became chief executive using money given to him by levy. if levy was alive today zambian airways would have been made national airline
no 2. well done for bringing the truth. thats how the lpm deal was agreed and negotiated and hence the hatred
Chiluba is a thief. The wife is a Jail bird because of Chiluba. So I dont understand why people want to paint Chiluba holy or clean. A thief is being glorified? Only pa Zed. Chiluba could have been very popular on the Copperbelt, but he is despised ther more than anywhere else. Why? He left a trail of wife snatching, closing of productive companies, bungled privatisation and looting state coffers.
Just let Chiluba enjoy his retirement the post he held only comes once in a life time, well done for spending the cash Mr. Former President when you were in power it was your time let them talk they will will get tired. Enjoy your life Dr. Chiluba!
As usual with a brown envelop….
Only time will tell. Everything that man claims to be his own is vanity. God bless Zambia. The greedy and the selfish will fall.